Tsunami Warning System to be Commissioned Soon: Kapil Sibal

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal has said that an Early Warning System for Tsunami and Storm Surges will be commissioned soon. He was speaking on the occasion of the Foundation day function of the Ministry of Earth Sciences in New Delhi. Shri P. Chidambaram, Union Minister for Finance was the chief guest. Shri Sibal pointed out that scientific knowledge of oceans and earth systems were no more luxuries but are crucial and essential as Tsunami of 2004 brought to fore and expressed hope that Finance Minister would lend his support to establish the needed infrastructure across the depths of oceans and the heights of the Himalayas to capture the needed data to forewarn of such impending disasters.

The Minister observed that in short period of a year of its inception, the Earth Sciences Ministry has caught the fancy of the people among others by pioneering the development of technology for Low Temperature Thermal Desalination of sea water, which has recently been demonstrated through the commissioning of a 1million litre/day plant to supply water to Chennai and now there are grandiose plans to go on to a 10 million litre/day plant. The second attainment has been the planning and securing the international acceptance for the establishment of the third station at Antarctica and lastly the initiative to establish a 24 hour Weather Channel.

Recalling former scientist-technocrat President Dr Kalam’s concept of Earth Systems Science as a dedicated, cohesive and seamless integration between researchers in multiple areas and in multiple organizations, Shri Sibal said that unlike research in strategic areas wherein the nations compete to maintain superiority over other nations, Earth Science is the ultimate realization of the mankind to cooperate and collaborate.

Calling for the need to inspire, captivate and motivate school children, young university entrants and even fellow adults to pursue careers allied with earth sciences Shri Sibal said that an organized educational infrastructure that supports sustainability and scalability is required for the ocean and earth sciences. He said more educational programmes and courses that address cross disciplinary issues in earth sciences are needed.

The Minister also suggested a seven-point agenda for the Ministry to address in the immediate future. It is as follows:

1) enhance earth science education for scientists and engineers;

2) raise the scientific and technological literacy of all citizens;

3) develop and sustain all major areas of earth systems research to realize for India a leading position in the comity of nations;

4) foster the intricate and powerful linkages among diverse science disciplines and technology applications to realize societal aspirations;

5) reaffirm and enlarge the public-private partnership between the nation’s research, industrial and service institutions in earth science and resources;

6) plan for and support rapid advances in earth science technology and realization of their impacts on society; and

7) manage and manipulate the international character of earth science, and technology to deliver benefits to the people of India and mankind.

The Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram, in his speech endorsed the agenda set out by the Earth Sciences Minister and urged the scientists to keep up the good work.

Scientists who were given the National award on the occasion were Shri Dev Raj Sikka for his pioneering contribution in monsoon metereology, droughts, tropical cyclones, numerical weather predictions and Shri. Abraham Ebenzer Muthunayagam, former secretary, dept of Ocean Development.

Several Certificates of Merit were also awarded on the occasion. The recipients included Dr. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Director in charge of the National Climate Centre, Pune, E.N. Rajagopal, Dr. K. Krishna Kumar from Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, Dr. R. Suresh and Shri K.G. Suresh Kumar of Aerodrome Meteorological Office, Chennai and Rajendra Kumar Jenamani, Director in charge, Meteorological Office, IGI Airport, Delhi. Among the Recipients of Certificate of Merit for outstanding performance in Ocean Science and Technology were Dr. Balakrishnan Nair T.M., Dr. Rahul Mohan, Shri Sushant Suresh Naik, Shri S. Ramji, Dr. S.V.S. Phani Kumar. Several employees of the Ministry were also awarded for their meritorious performances.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : July 27, 2007